Easy steps Torontonians can take to reduce their carbon footprint

​By Ivan Chen

Sustainable living may seem daunting, but making small changes to your everyday life can have an impact in the long run. (Credit: Nature_Design/Pixabay)

It’s easy to believe that living sustainably requires big sacrifices and lifestyle shifts. That’s not necessarily true. Many changes are easy and can lower your carbon footprint. Here are some simple and local actions you can start taking today.

1. Shop at a farmers’ market

Buying food and other goods from farmers’ markets is a great way to lower your carbon footprint. Vendors at farmers’ markets are often locals, meaning that goods travel a shorter distance and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Goods at farmers’ markets also generally use less packaging. Toronto is home to many farmers’ markets, including those open year-round at St. Lawrence Market North, Allan Gardens and Dufferin Grove.

2. Bring your own cup

Single-use cups are a commonly discarded item. In 2024, the city of Toronto introduced a new bylaw requiring all retail businesses that serve drinks in single-use cups to accept reusable cups from customers. If you’re someone who enjoys getting drinks on the go frequently, consider bringing your own reusable cup. Sure, you’ll have to clean it afterwards, but this small step can greatly cut down on waste over time. 

3. Utilize bulk and refill stores

Many everyday products come in plastic packaging that’s discarded after use. Some bulk and refill stores cut down on waste production by allowing you to bring your own containers to stock up on goods like soaps, seasonings, coffee beans, grains and snacks. Stores include The Source Bulk Foods, Saponetti, Unboxed Market and Bulk Barn.

4. Shop secondhand and attend clothing swaps

The clothing industry takes a heavy toll on the environment. Consider visiting a thrift store or consignment boutique the next time you need to buy clothes. Clothing swaps with your friends, family or community are another way to sustainably refresh your wardrobe. Secondhand shopping keeps clothing in use for longer while reducing demand for new production. Check out Double Take on Gerrard Street East, or the many thrift stores in Kensington Market.

5. Fix it at a repair café

When something breaks, the first instinct for many of us may be to toss it and buy a new one. But one alternative is Repair Café Toronto. Run by volunteers, the group hosts pop-up events throughout the city, offering free repair services on items like electronics, clothes, jewellery and small appliances. The volunteers will even teach guests how to make small common repairs themselves. Before throwing out that seemingly unrepairable household item, look out for one of their pop-ups and see what they can do first.

6. Get a library card
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The library card from Toronto Public Library is an underrated sustainability tool. By borrowing instead of buying, production demand for physical copies of items is lowered. One copy at a library can be shared by hundreds of people over its lifetime. 

The card also gives people access to special resources at certain library branches’ Digital Innovation Hub. Some of these resources include 3D printers, audio and visual production studios, sewing machines and high-tech computers. By providing access to these resources, the library card reduces the need for people to purchase items individually and maximizes the use of existing community resources.

None of these efforts alone will solve the climate crisis, but they are actionable steps for Torontonians to lighten their carbon footprint

Edited by Jess Blackwell